quote:

Originally posted by jonquil:
would it not be more comfortable for all concerned if tour directors, drivers etc. were all paid by the company - rather than at the end of each trip. Always very awkward. (Obviously the clients would be covering the payment in the original cost of the trip.)

Jonquil:

I am inclined to agree with you to the extent that INSIGHT should provide a sliding scale bonus to the TD's predicated upon their performance in meeting all of the tour criteria, and then some. Feedback would be in the form of INSIGHT reviewing our questionaires. Bonuses should not, however be built-into the cost of the tour.

With regard to Tipping on the part of the traveler, frankly, I've found it to be an awkward moment when handing an envelope, or cash, to the TD as this, unto itself, places them at a level of a Wait Staff person, or Taxi Driver, or Bell-Hop, other than the seasoned, educated travel professional that they indeed are, their compensation made accordingly. Certainly, all gratuities, none the less, would still be accepted by the TD especially in this "Tipping" (expected) society.

Additionally, when "Traveling in Style" the outlay of additional monies (beyond the cost of the tour) should be applied to the persons' credit card when choosing Options. The cash requirement certainly erodes the moment as most of us would prefer to use our "spending money" while on free time, and/or on meals while dining away from the hotel, or other pre-arranged group settings.

In closing, would any BB members be in favour of developing a Bill of Rights for INSIGHT travelers?

Regards to all....

TC

quote:

Originally posted by TravlinCpl:
You stand "corrected". All of the earlier Posts on Tipping (which went on forever) were unique to the INSIGHT BB.

Not quite correct. While the moderator has certainly closed tipping threads on Insight in the past, it is certainly not unique to the INSIGHT BB.

In fact the tipping threads on Trafalgar have been far more extensive and frequent over the past 5 years or so and there have been more threads closed there than here.

quote:

I am inclined to agree with you to the extent that INSIGHT should provide a sliding scale bonus to the TD's predicated upon their performance in meeting all of the tour criteria, and then some. Feedback would be in the form of INSIGHT reviewing our questionaires. Bonuses should not, however be built-into the cost of the tour.

If bonuses were not built into the cost of the tour where would the money come from? Insight has to get it from somewhere.

I believe that the questionnaires are important as TDs are contract staff and if their performance is rated below that expected they will not be offered more tours.

quote:

Cow tipping is OK in Chicago, USA!

It's funny you should mention that,Cat's. When I was a kid,a bunch of us cousins were out at Grandpa's farm and we decided to see if we could tip a cow. It took 6 of us - we ran up to the cow and pushed and was she ever surprised! So were we - there was a bull in the field and when she bawled, the bull came after us. Luckily we all leaped the fence, but unbeknownst to us, we had an adult audience. Boy, did we get in trouble!

So you could say "Cow tipping in Iowa is not okay."

[QUOTE]Originally posted by johninwa:
Holland America has a no tipping policy, and I therefore assume they pay a little better.

Holland America certainly has a tipping policy--at least they did on my Alaskan cruise a few years ago. They had just started a new policy of adding a set amount (I forget how much) for tips to your bill everyday. You could make changes if you wanted to. But if you did nothing, you "tipped" their set smount.

Sue, you are indeed correct. It has been sometime since I used Holland America and I see from their website that they now add $11/passenger to their account and a 15% service charge is added to bar bills. Apparently the no tipping policy that I experienced some years ago (I think they did try it) didn't work.

Insight's opposition (G..bus)charge upfront for gratuities....In their brochure under the table of dates and tour costs are additional costs including for a 14 day tour in Eastern Europe 'Gratuities per person for tour director and driver: $118'.

I wonder which system we'd prefer?

Omitted 'for example' in my last reply.
The amounts for each tour vary.

quote:

Originally posted by Bellbird:
Insight's opposition (G..bus)charge upfront for gratuities....In their brochure under the table of dates and tour costs are additional costs including for a 14 day tour in Eastern Europe 'Gratuities per person for tour director and driver: $118'.

I wonder which system we'd prefer?

I believe that is an optional charge and if you do choose to pay in advance you are given vouchers to give to the TD and Driver, it is not automatically part of the tour price.

Cheers
Missie

quote:

Originally posted by Happy Traveler2:


If the tip was part of the purchase price a poor performing TD would be receiving as much of a tip as a superior performing TD.

Precisely my good man.....which goes to support my (earlier) suggestion of structuring a Sliding Scale for awarding all TD's with a Bonus (in lieu of tipping) based on the receipt and evaluation of the travel surveys.

TC